Hi all,  am I missing something ?  I have just been on the VIRGIN (Mobile) site & they say that dialing their 0845 number is charged at NATIONAL Rate !
Is this right ? Are some 0845 numbers actually charged at National rate, or have they made a boo boo ? (I have found their geo number through this site - thanks).
Isn't there something in B.T's charter about 0845 only being Local rates ?
all the best
Furkin

I suppose we should have been alerted when operators started calling them LowwCall and Lo etc (hmm, bit wary about trademarks).
But Virgin are wrong. Mind you mobiles can charge what they like. Time to recall first direct's excellent launch of 0113 234 5678, which they advertised for use from mobiles etc. No I don't use them or have shares, commission etc.

Hold on here?

Surely there is now no such thing as a "National" or a "local" rate" - not any longer?

thanks all,
if you look on virgins Mobile page, you will see what I see.
Virgin used to have exceptional Customer Service & I'm sure that they'd appreciate being told if something is actually wrong.
Is it time for me to tell them yet ???? or has anyone else any comments ?
Furkin

Just email them and tell them that the descriptions of local rate or national rate are misleading and can no longer be used and neither can they remain silent on call costs.  In other words they have to say that calls to 0845 ... cost upto 4ppm from a BT landline and more from other providers.

In the email to them quote the website addresses I've listed in this thread from the ASA (Advertising Standards Authority)/CAP and OfCOM websites which indicate that the descriptions of local rate and national rate are misleading and that they have to mention the actual cost of the call.

Do not mention that technically ASA/CAP guidelines on the use of such numbers doesn't cover websites unless it was an advert.  Just basically quote the three website addresses for them to clarify that in fact they can no longer use the misleading descriptions nor remain silent on the cost of the call.

wrote on Aug 20^th, 2005 at 1:57pm:

Do not mention that technically ASA/CAP guidelines on the use of such numbers doesn't cover websites unless it was an advert.  Just basically quote the three website addresses for them to clarify that in fact they can no longer use the misleading descriptions nor remain silent on the cost of the call.

But surely a website must be an advertsiement for a company? ;)

wrote on Aug 20^th, 2005 at 2:53pm:

But surely a website must be an advertsiement for a company? ;)

I've already spoken with the ASA over this and an actual website is not covered under their remit unless it is an advertisment.  In other words, it has to be a pop-up window or a website advert for the company concerned and on this pop-up window or website advert that it mentions calling 0845 is local/national rate, etc.

When it is just the website you are objecting to then I assume it therefore comes under trading standards to investigate.

Tks bbb_uk, much clearer for me. Thank you  :)